Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s Official Charity, the Edgbaston Foundation, has helped raise more than £13,500 to support the homeless in Birmingham, and the wider county of Warwickshire, by staging its very first stadium sleepout.
Taking place in the grounds of the 24,500-capacity cricket stadium, the Edgbaston Sleepout saw more than 30 people, including Warwickshire CCC Sport Director Ashley Giles, Birmingham City Council Chief Operating Officer Angela Probert and Bishop of Birmingham David Urqhart, sleep rough for the evening to raise funds for St Basils and other homeless charities.
The participants experienced what it was like to sleep in the cold and wind for one evening. We are truly thankful to Edgbaston Stadium for hosting this event and look forward to working with Edgbaston Foundation over the course of our partnership.
Jean Templeton, St Basils
Ravi Masih, Head of Community Engagement at Warwickshire CCC, said: “Sleeping rough is something many in the group hadn’t faced before, and it was a real eye opener to the daily challenges that many people face.
“The Edgbaston Foundation is committed to helping address these challenges and we saw this first Edgbaston Sleepout as an innovative way of raising funds and awareness of the fantastic work done by St Basils and other charities supporting the homeless.
“We’re thrilled to have raised over £13,500 through this inaugural Edgbaston Sleepout and will work closely with St Basils on several other projects later this year.”
Warwickshire CCC recently named St Basils as it’s Lead Charity Partner to work collaboratively with its official charity, the Edgbaston Foundation, as part of a new agreement which will see the charities work jointly on fundraising initiatives and sporting projects that will give young people more life skills.
Jean Templeton, Chief Executive of St. Basils, said: “The Edgbaston Sleepout provided an insight into what life can be like for many people in our region and what we at St Basils are trying to prevent.
“The participants experienced what it was like to sleep in the cold and wind for one evening. But sadly for many this can be a daily activity. We are truly thankful to Edgbaston Stadium for hosting this event and look forward to working with Edgbaston Foundation over the course of our partnership.”
There’s still time to show your support to the participants of the Edgbaston Sleepout by becoming a sponsor here: http://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/edgbastonsleepout
